Robert Bates wrote:
I'm thinking about buying an Apache but can't find performance data for a
160hp Geronimo or a turbo. Also, does anyone have real world data for a
180hp Geronimo rather than what's on the website?

I don't know much of anything about the straight Apache, but I can tell
you a bit about the 180 hp Geronimo.

First - there are a lot of aerodynamic mods to turn an Apache into a
Geronimo, so it is quite a bit faster.
Second - most Geronimos are flight school airplanes, rather than
personal airplanes, so the maintenance on them tends to be crappy. I
don't know whether it's tired motors or crooked airframes or lack of
attention paid to rigging and such, but my experience is that private
airplanes of a given make and model tend to fly substantially (10 kts+)
faster than their flight school counterparts.

The flight school Geronimos I have seen have been pigs. They might
make 145 kts at full rental power. I have a friend who used to own a
Geronimo (and now owns a Baron) who says that his would true out over
155 kts. This was max power and optimum altitude.

Apaches will be substantially slower.

If you are looking at an entry level twin, I think you would be way
happier with a Beech TravelAir or Piper Twin Comanche. Same operating
cost, substantially better speed. You will take a big insurance hit in
the first year, after that it evens out (provided you fly a lot in that
first year).

Michael